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Y.E.S. State Summits

Founded in conjunction with the National Y.E.S. program, the State Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.) program was created to teach high school students more about their state governments and the roles their generation of voters will play. A special emphasis is also placed on the benefits of firearms ownership.

Oregon, Texas, and Virginia currently host their own state Y.E.S. programs. Students from these states must attend their state Y.E.S. before attending the National Y.E.S. program. In most cases, students participating in these state programs can earn a spot in the National Y.E.S. ans an award for being the top state student.

Each state has different age requirements for participants. Please check the application for your state, or contact your state’s Y.E.S. coordinator.

Alaska

Please contact Y.E.S. coordinator Joey Jigliotti at (907) 242-2636 or [email protected] for more information.

Idaho

The next Idaho YES program will be held August 10 to 13, 2023. Applications must be received by April 21, 2023. Please contact Idaho YES Coordinator Matthew Faulks at 208-941-8090 for more information.

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North Carolina

The North Carolina Youth Education Summit is on hiatus until further notice. If you would like to volunteer to help restart the program, please contact NRA Field Representative Doug Merrill at [email protected].

Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Youth Education Summit is on the hunt for a team of passionate volunteers to help restart the program. Interested? Contact NRA Field Representative Kory Enck at [email protected].

Texas

Please contact Y.E.S. Coordinator Derrick Ard at [email protected] for more information.

Virginia

Please contact Y.E.S. Coordinator Jaye Pearce at (434) 248-6151 or [email protected] for more information.

West Virginia

The West Virginia Youth Education Summit is on hiatus. If you would like to volunteer to help restart the program, contact NRA Field Representative Mike Swackhamer at [email protected].

Y.E.S. State Summits FAQs

Still have questions about the Y.E.S. state summit programs? Explore the frequently asked questions below.

What are the goals of State Y.E.S.?

The main goals of this program are to give these students the opportunity to develop an awareness and desire to participate in all levels of government, learn about their state's unique heritage and history, and obtain a better understanding of volunteer organizations and how young citizens can become involved in serving their communities.

What happens at the state summits?

Students spend four days in the state capital visiting with legislative and political leaders and learning about their state's history by touring museums and historical sites. In addition, students are introduced to various career opportunities relating directly or indirectly to their interest in firearms, such as law enforcement or military service. Careers in wildlife and conservation are also included within this scope. Students also practice their public speaking and debate skills through carefully designed group exercises.

How is a State Y.E.S. funded?

Funding for the program comes primarily through grants from each state's State Fund Committee. Funding may also be secured through state associations, local businesses and other sponsors or donors. The end result is that students attend Y.E.S. free of charge, though they are required to cover their own transportation costs to and from the program.

Why should you get involved?

The program teaches valuable leadership skills and promotes students to become involved as active citizens in their local community. State Y.E.S. allows more students to participate, thereby creating a larger grassroots base. Instead of reaching just forty students each year at the national level, multiple State Y.E.S. programs throughout the year could potentially reach hundreds or more annually.

How do you get involved?

First, touch base with your NRA field representative and let them know that you are interested in starting a State Y.E.S. in your area. Next, contact NRA Headquarters for an informational press kit, which includes materials to help you get started. You can also download the Volunteer's Guide to Starting a State Youth Education Summit. Follow the instructions in the guide to secure funding and schedule a summit in your state.

Y.E.S. State Summit Volunteers

As Alaska, Texas, Oregon, Virginia and West Virginia have watched their state Youth Education Summits (Y.E.S.) flourish into creative learning environments for outstanding students in their states, other states have struggled or not even considered starting their own Y.E.S. Why? Various reasons can hinder start-ups—not enough volunteers, funding, or time being the main culprits. We are here to tell you that starting a state Y.E.S. can be done and is worth the time and commitment involved in organizing one!

State volunteer Y.E.S. organizers, along with NRA Field Representatives, can attest to the immense impact a state Y.E.S. has on their students and communities. Not only are they teaching today’s youth about the history and mission of the NRA, but also cultivating communication and leadership skills that students will carry with them for the rest of their lives. In addition, students are provided the opportunity to develop an awareness of and desire to learn about their state’s unique heritage and history, and to understand how young citizens can become involved in serving their communities. If you find you are interested in this mission and are willing to implement a Y.E.S. program in your state capital, you are on the path to starting a state Y.E.S. Here are some bullet points on how to accomplish that goal:

Recruit Volunteers
Although planning a state Y.E.S. program is possible with one person, it will be much more successful with several volunteers who can share the work load.

Secure Funding
First-year state Y.E.S. programs need to have a sponsoring organization. The national Y.E.S. organizer at NRA Headquarters submits a state Y.E.S. grant to each State Fund Committee (SFC). Once the SFC approves the grant and it is processed through The NRA Foundation, the sponsoring organization will receive the funds and the state Y.E.S. organizers will have access to the money they need to support the program.

Create An Itinerary
State summits last three to four days and include activities such as state capitol tours, museum tours and student speeches and debates.

Select Students
National Y.E.S. can provide you with the application process to get started on selecting a qualified group of 3-10 students.

Download The State Y.E.S. Manual

Want To Know More

For more information about the NRA Youth Education Summit, please call us at (800) 672-3888 ext. 1351 or email [email protected].

A week-long competitive fellowship in Washington, D.C. enables high school sophomores and juniors to explore their passion for the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights and our American government.

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